Once, in a small New England town known for its hot springs, something terrible happened. Something that should have been a warning to stay away from the pools, if the stories were to be believed.
But no one is afraid of the water anymore - even if they should be.
When new girl Lexie meets golden boy Chester, their chemistry is undeniable. She's running from a glittering life she won't speak about. He's hiding secrets of his own. Their connection feels bigger than both of them, despite their damage.
One frigid winter morning in that small New England town, five people go for a swim in the pools. Five people, including Chester. What happens there sends shock waves through the town-and changes life as Lexie knows it forever.
Powerful and intensely romantic, The Pools tackles love, loss, womanhood and identity. A tale that will linger in the mind and provoke intense conversation. A compelling and memorable love story.
E. Lockhart is the author of Again Again, Genuine Fraud, We Were Liars and Family of Liars, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, and several other books. Whistle: A New Gotham CIty Hero is a graphic novel. We Were Liars is also a TV show on Prime Video, June 2025. We Fell Apart, book 3 in the We Were Liars universe, publishes November 2025.